Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5.0 out of 5 stars
"Gene Autry B-Western Series ... Sons of New Mexico (1949) ... Image Ent (2004).", September 10, 2007
Columbia Pictures present "SONS OF NEW MEXICO" (1949) (71 mins/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- relive those thrilling days when the "First Singing Cowboy" Gene Autry took us down the dusty trails with hard riding and straight shooting hitting the bull's eye with excitement every time --- the Gene Autry series of B-Westerns were a staple of Saturday matinees in the 1930s and 1940s --- The Following Segments are from the "Melody Ranch Theater", which originally aired on the Nashville Network in 1987 --- Hosted by Gene and longtime sidekick Pat Buttram the program showcased many of Gene's classic motion pictures and featured personal anecdotes about how the films were made --- Information on costars and significant happenings in Gene's personal life and career. --- don't miss any of the Singing Cowboy's features loaded with action and songs that will leave you wanting more of Gene Autry's B-Western Adventures --- The sale of this DVD will further the educational and cultural mission of the renowned "Autry National Center in Los Angeles".
Under Jon English (Director), Armand Schaefer (Producer), Paul Gangelin (Screenwriter), William Bradford (Cinematographer), Mischa Bakaleinikoff (Musical Direction/Supervision), Paul Mertz (Musical Direction/Supervision), Henry Batista (Editor), Harold H. MacArthur (Art Director), Sidney Clifford (Set Designer), Don Murphy (Makeup) - - - - - our story line and plot, Gene's latest Columbia Picture utilizes scenes filmed at the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexico --- Gene's duties as executor of an estate he must keep a juvenile delinquent (Dick Jones) from the clutches gambler Pat Feeney (Robert Armstrong) who hopes to get at the money through the kid --- Frankie Darro appeared with Gene all the way back to Gene's serial "The Phantom Empire" in 1935 --- Clayton Moore is seen as one of Robert Armstrong's henchmen, just before signing on to be TV's "The Lone Ranger" --- Two of Gene's favorite co-stars appear in this film Gail Davis (Annie Oakley) and Dick Jones (Buffalo Bill Jr) both had TV series of their own produced by Gene Autry --- This film was the first of 14 pictures Gail Davis co-starred in with Gene, she appeared in 15 of Gene's half hour TV shows and three seasons for his Flying A Productions as "Annie Oakley" from January 1954 to February 1957 ----- In Sons of New Mexico some wonderful tunes, NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE MARCH (Military Band and Studio Singers), CAN'T SHAKE THE SANDS OF TEXAS FROM MY SHOES (Gene Autry), THERE'S A RAINBOW ON THE RIO COLORADO (Gene Autry), THE HONEY SONG (HONEY, I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU) (Gene Autry), NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE MARCH (Military Band and Studio Singers) - - - - - some Autry fun facts, Gene collected poems and jokes.
the cast includes
Gene Autry ... Gene Autry
Champion ... Champion
Gail Davis ... Eileen MacDonald
Robert Armstrong ... Pat Feeney
Dickie Jones ... Randy Pryor (as Dick Jones)
Frankie Darro ... Gig Jackson
Irving Bacon ... Chris Dobbs
Russell Arms ... Chuck Brunton
Marie Blake ... Hannah Dobbs
Clayton Moore ... Rufe Burns
Sandy Sanders ... Ranch hand Walt
Kenne Duncan ... Henchman Ed
Pierce Lyden ... Henchman
BIOS:
1. Gene Autry
Date of Birth: 29 September 1907 - Near Tioga, Texas
Date of Death: 2 October 1998 - Studio City, Los Angeles, California
Special footnote, Orvon Gene Autry was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television --- Discovered by film producer Nat Levine in 1934, he and Burnette made their film debut for Mascot Pictures Corp. "In Old Santa Fe" as part of a singing cowboy quartet; he was then given the starring role by Levine in 1935 in the 12-part serial "The Phantom Empire" --- Shortly thereafter, Mascot was absorbed by the formation of Republic Pictures Corp. and Autry went along to make a further 44 films up to 1940, all B westerns in which he played under his own name, rode his horse Champion, had Burnette as his regular sidekick and had many opportunities to sing in each film --- Autry became the top Western star at the box-office by 1937, reaching his national peak of popularity from 1940 to 1942. His Gene Autry Flying "A" Ranch Rodeo show debuted in 1940 --- Gene Autry is the only celebrity to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one in each of the five categories maintained by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce --- Radio, Films, Recordings, Television and Live Theater.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. Reminiscing with Gene Autry and Pat Buttram at the "Melody Ranch Theater"
2. "Don't Touch That Dial", Gene Autry is on the air - excerpts from the Original "Melody Ranch Radio Show"
3. Production and Publicity Stills
4. Horseplay
5. Poster and lobby Card Art
6. Trivia and Movie Facts
7. Original Press Kit Material
Check out a new book from Empire Publishing - "GENE AUTRY WESTERNS" (Hardcover) - by author Boyd Magers, like no other book on Gene Autry --- all of Gene's Mascot, Republic and Columbia westerns included, as well as his half-hour TV Episodes --- each segment contains the release date on each film ... major production credits ... complete cast (including character played) ... all songs included, songwriter and who performed them in the film ... running time of each film ... dates of the filming ... bios on the cast and major players (Smiley, Pat Buttram, Cass County Boys, Herbert J. Yates, directors, leading ladies, songwriters and various heavies, etc.) ... locations that were used ... budgets and negative cost ... stunt people involved ... analysis and synopsis on each film ... notes and comments (including film and cast background info, salaries paid, working titles, etc) ... comments from Gene and many other cast members on each film ... theater exhibitors comments at the time of the films release ...this tribute was written from the heart and it shows.
Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc) and Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") as they have rekindled my interest once again for B-Westerns and Serials --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '20s, '30s & '40s and B-Westerns ... order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with musical songs and adventure --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Image Entertainment where they are experts in releasing B-Westerns --- all my heroes have been cowboys!
Total Time: 71 min on DVD ~ Image Entertainment ~ (5/25/2004)
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